Lighter



March 1961 H. P; BELLAVANCE 2,973,634

LIGHTER Filed April 15, 1959 INVENTOR. HAROLD R BELLAVANCE ATTORNE YSLIGHTER Harold P. Bellavance, Attleboro, Mass., assignor to UnitedFindings Co., Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Apr. is, 1959,Ser. No. 806,687

2 Claims. (Cl. 677.1)

This invention relates to a lighter of the pyrophoric type and isparticularly adapted for the so-called table lighter.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an inexpensivelighter which may be assembled from a minimum of parts and with simpleand inexpensive operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lighter having a fuelreservoir which may be filled by the removal of a unit carrying theignition mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction in whichthe assembly of the ignition mechanism on the fluid reservoir will sealthe fluid reservoir, the ignition mechanism being removable for fillingthe fuel reservoir.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction in whichthe top of the fuel reservoir may be molded with an arrangement providedby the molding for assembly of the ignition mechanism and at the sametime a closure for the filling opening of the fuel reservoir.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction'as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a table lighter which incorporates theinvention therein;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a fragmental portion including theignition mechanism of the lighter;

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the ignition mechanism removed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the locking pin for holding theignition mechanism in position.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a cup or recess in a basewith a top wall to cover this recess, thus forming a fuel reservoir. Asuitable wick extends through this top wall and at a point spaced fromthe wick I provide a recess extending inwardly from the top wall towardthe fuel reservoir, leaving a bottom wall for the recess and in thisbottom wall an opening is provided to the fuel reservoir. A blockcarrying a plug of a size to substantially fit the recess is inserted inthe recess so as to have the plug enter the opening and seal thereservoir, and on this block I mountignition mechanism including asnuffer cap which will cover the wick and extinguish the same should thesame be lighted. The ignition mechanism is in such proximity to the wickthat when actuated, the wick will be lighted. A lock cooperating .withthe ignition carrying block in the recess secures the block in therecess or the lock may be so actuated as to free the block so that itmay be easily withdrawn as a unit for filling the fuel reservoir.

With reference to the drawings, designates a solid base which mayconveniently be formed of a plastic material of a transparent charactersuch as methyl methacrylate often called Lucite. This base has a topsurface 11 into which there is provided a cup 12 having bottom and sidewalls 13 and 14 with some sort of fuel Un ed; tat syPat O Patented Mar.7, 1961 absorbing substance 15 'within the hollowed out portion 12. Atop 16 also formed of a similar plastic of a transparent character setsinto a recess 17 in the top surface 11 about the cup and is secured in aposition to cover the cup-like recess or fuelreservoir 12. This top 16is of a substantial thickness having a top wall or surface 18 withdownwardly sloping sides 19. A wick hole 20 extends through this topwall 16 and a tubular bushing 21 extends through the top through thehole 20 and is provided with an enlarged boss 22 at its upper end with abeveled edge 23. A wick 24 extends through this bushing and boss 21 and22 and is located within the fuel compartment '12.

At a location spaced from this Wick and boss a recess 25 extendsinwardly from the upper surface 18 of the top wall toward the reservoir12 to an extent so as to leave a bottom wall 26 separating the recessfrom the reservoir, and through this botom wall 26 there is provided anopening 27 which will afford access to the reservoir for filling thesame. I

The ignition mechanism is mounted on a unit which will fit into thisrecess 25 and is shown as a block 28 to be slidably guided into positionby the sides of the recess and is provided with a plug 29 to enter theopening 27 and seal the same. This block is locked in the recess 25 byhaving a bore 30 extending into one end and a pin 31 slidably mounted inthe upstanding wall 32 of the top 16. This pin 31 has a handle portion33 projecting beyond the outer surface of the portion 32 so that thesame may be easily grasped to be pushed into the bore 30 or pulled toretract the pin therefrom. The pin is flattened as at 34 along a portionintermediate its length providing'abutments 35 and 36 which will engagea washer 37 placed over the pin and in a position so that the washer mayengage either the wall portion 32 to prevent withdrawal of the pin whenthe abutment 36 engages the washer or to limit insertion of the pin whenthe washer engages the block 28 and the abutment 35 engages the washer.

This block 28 carries usual ignition mechanism includ ing a pyrophoricmaterial 38 in a bore which is actuated by a spring held in position bya screw 39 threaded into '25 and thus the walls of this recess serve toguide the block into position both for locating the plug 29 in its hole27 for sealing the reservoir and also for locating the snulfer cap sothat it will accurately engage with the boss and seal the wick. Theblock is cut away as at 41 so as to permit the projecting portion of thepin 31 free movement in this cutaway area as the block is moved to andfrom position in the recess.

It will be apparent that for assembling the ignition mechanism it ismerely necessary to put the block 28 in the recess and push in the pin31 by handle 33 and all parts will assume their correct position. Forfilling the fuel reservoir, it is merely necessary to withdraw the pinand pull out the block by grasping the ignition mechanism carriedthereby, pour in liquid fuel through the opening 27 and replace theignition unit, thus sealing the fuel in its reservoir 12.

The top 16 may be molded to correct size with the recess 25 and holes20, 27 and locking pin hole therein without further operation, thusmaking assembly a simple operation.

I claim:

1. A lighter comprising a fuel reservoir, a top over said reservoir ofsubstantial thickness having a recess extending from its outer surfacetoward said reservoir there being a bottom wall of said recess having anopening therethrough to said reservoir, a block of a size to fit intosaid recess provided with a plug to seal said opening when the block isinserted in said recess, said block having a hole therein and ignitionmechanism carried by said-block, said block being of a size to closely'fit said recess and be guided by the side walls thereof to positionsaid plug into said opening and a pin slidably mounted in the wall ofsaid recess to enter .said hole andtlock the block in said recess, saidpin having a finger piece accessible from the outer surface of said top,said pin being provided with a notch and a washer embracing said pinlocated in said notch and between said-block and the side wall of saidrecess to limit the sliding movement of said pin in both directions.

2. A lighter comprising a-fuel reservoir, a top over 15 2,791,110

4 voir, said top being solid and of a thickness greater than the depthof said recess and provided with a hole of an axial dimension greaterthan the depth of said recess extending completely through said solidtop at a location spaced from said recess, a wick in said hole, a blockof a size to fit into said recess provided with a plug to seal saidopening when the block is insertedin said recess and provided withignition mechanism including a snuffer cap to cover said wick, saidblock and ignition mechanism .being a unit separately removable from thetop and wick for filling said reservoir through said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGellman May 7, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 948,988 France Feb. 7, 1949

